Rescuing Jesus

How People of Color, Women & Queer Christians Are Reclaiming Evangelicalism

Journalist Deborah Jian Lee ventures into the world of progressive evangelicalism and tells the stories of the young women and men--LGBTQ and straight; white, black, Asian, Hispanic, and indigenous--at the forefront of a movement that could alter both the face and the substance of religion in the United States.--From publisher description.

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Just finished Rescuing Jesus : How People of Color, Women, and Queer Christians are Reclaiming Evangelicalism by Deborah Jian Lee.
I was a little put-off by the book's title - which turned out to be misleading since, Jesus isn't really the one being rescued. But it had some good recommendations, so I dove in anyway. Rescuing Jesus really surprised me. I expected it to be a "rant" about these issues. Instead, I found myself drawn in by the personal stories, and fascinated by the well-researched history that was interspersed throughout the book.

The personal stories are of people that have been marginalized by their Evangelical communities for their gender, race, or orientation. But rather than abandon their faith, where many stories end, these stories move beyond the pain to self-discovery and finding a calling, rooted in faith, to serve others.

It definitely identifies problems that we have inherited in an Evangelical culture dominated by straight, white, males for generations. So if you're not open to being shown those systemic problems and how they impact people, it's probably not a book you will enjoy.

If you are willing to take some time to try and view life in Evangelical circles from some new perspectives, you will be glad you did. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for those in this category.